Could Cousin Vinny play JoePa in a future biopic?

With this morning’s report that Penn State football coach Joe Paterno passed away, speculation always arises after an individual’s death of a potential biographical film. After singer Michael Jackson’s death, his estate announced that a biopic was “in the works” with actor Will Smith and singer Bruno Wars as possible contenders to play the late King of Pop.

Paterno, who led Penn State for most of his adult life, would have more than enough information to have a biopic made that would go from his time at Brown University, taking over as head coach of the Nittany Lions, and eventually falling due to Jerry Sandusky’s child sex scandal.

With his trademark Italian-American, Brooklyn-accent, a possible casting for Paterno could be Joe Pesci. Pesci, 68, has largely retired from acting but has appeared in 2006′s The Good Shepherd and 2010′s Love Ranch.

Pesci won an Academy Award in 1990 for Goodfellas and no doubt if a Paterno biopic was well done, a Pesci performance could be Oscar-material. Pesci would bring a certain tenacity to the role, especially in the fire that Paterno displayed on the field and in the press.

Tributes continue. The tributes for the long time coach have coming in from luminaries such as former President George H.W. Bush and current Penn. Gov. Tom Corbett, as well as Paterno’s former assistant Jerry Sandusky.

“I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Joe Paterno. He was an outstanding American who was respected not only on the field of play but in life generally – and he was, without a doubt, a true icon in the world of sports. I was proud that he was a friend of mine. Barbara and I send our condolences to his devoted wife Suzanne and to his wonderful family” – President George H.W. Bush

“Susan and I were saddened to learn of Joe Paterno’s passing. His legacy as the winningest coach in major college football and his generosity to Penn State as an institution and to his players stand as monuments to his life. As both man and coach, Joe Paterno confronted adversities, both past and present, with grace and forbearance. His place in our state’s history is secure.” – Penn. Gov. Tom Corbett.

“This is a sad day! Our family, Dottie and I would like to convey our deepest sympathy to Sue and her family. Nobody will be able to take away the memories we all shared of a great man, his family, and all the wonderful people who were a part of his life. He maintained a high standard in a very difficult profession. Joe preached toughness, hard work and clean competition. Most importantly, he had the courage to practice what he preached.” – Jerry Sandusky.

Once upon a time Disney created animated films in two dimensions… Happily, after a time they decided to create 3D special editions… not that the 3D was especially needed, but it became the reason to bring the films back to the big screen where they belong. First it was “Lion King” and now it is the 1991 classic “Beauty and the Beast” which hasn’t been seen on the big screen since a 2002 IMAX special edition. A generation had passed without being able to see the film as it was intended.

Based on the French fairy tale “La Belle et la Bête”,  “Beauty and the Beast” tells the story of a selfish young prince who refuses shelter to an old beggar woman on a stormy night. The woman turns out to be a beautiful enchantress who changes the prince into a hideous beast for not seeing the beauty within. He has until is twenty-first birthday to find love and be loved for who he is or he will forever remain a beast and his servants, who have been transformed into household items, will also stay in their changed form. The Prince/Beast (Robby Benson) lives in anger with his isolation.

Meanwhile in a nearby village, Belle (Paige O’Hara), a young woman with a voracious appetite for reading finds herself the unwilling subject of the town’s example of machismo chauvinism, Gaston the Hunter (Richard White). Gaston believes a woman has no use for books and reading. Belle, on the other hand, wants someone who can appreciate her for the way she is just like her inventor father, Maurice (Rex Everhart), does.

While traveling to a fair to show off his latest invention, Maurice stumbles across the Beast’s castle and seeks shelter from a storm. Upon entering he encounters a candlestick and a clock. They are in reality Lumière (Jerry Orbach) and Cogsworth (David Ogden Stiers), the Beast’s maître ď and majordomo respectively, who eventually offer Maurice hospitality for the night. They are joined by a teapot, Mrs. Potts (Angela Lansbury), and her son, a teacup named Chip ( Bradley Michael Pierce). All seems well until the Master enters the room in his usual Beastly fashion and imprisons Maurice.

When Maurice’s horse returns riderless, Belle has the horse take her in search of her father. Finding him imprisoned in the castle it is not long before the Beast shows up. When Belle offers to take her father’s place the Beast accepts, her father is released and sent home, and the questions begin… Will love show up in time? Will Maurice be locked up for his crazy tale of a ferocious Beast? Will the hunter catch his prey? Will Disney continue to create and release 3D versions of its classic animated tales?

For the answer to most of these questions you will have to go see the film which has been acclaimed in its 2D form for years. As for the 3D version, the effect is a bit like a pop-up book, showing depth between the separated layers of the original hand-drawn animation cells. It adds contrast to many scenes but can easily be skipped if the 2D where also available. Unfortunately, Disney seems to think they have to do 3D treatments to get people to show up. Fortunately, though, it has been their excuse to re-releasing the classics to theaters again. If you have never seen “Beauty and the Beast” on a big screen before consider it a treat. Go see it while you can during the current limited release.

Rated: G (1 hour 24 min) Limited Time Release.

The “cavalcade” (no pun intended to my other column) of themed bars opening in Albany doesn’t seem like it will be slowing down, as the Merry Monk (90 North Pearl Street, Albany) brings a decidedly Belgian flavor to the North Pearl Street scene.

The Merry Monk is located at the corner of North Pearl and Sheridan, a block that has seen its share of bar openings and closings. The Merry Monk’s exact location has been home to D’Amici’s Pizza (during the Skyline Lounge era), the Assembly, and the Corner Bar. Unlike the Assembly and Corner Bar, the Merry Monk presents a unique and welcomed difference than the rest of the North Pearl clubs and lounges.

I’ve been talking up going to the Merry Monk for the last couple of weeks and had the pleasure of having fellow columnist Sean Collins, our managing editor-in-chief Jaqi Cohen, and the Goitz Man to join me on this expedition.

Inside, the place is well-put together. The bar itself is large – with the counter’s composition a teal crystal tile encased in glass (unlike it’s next door neighbor Legends on Pearl that has the Miami-style light up counter). There is a lounge area on your left walking in, with booth seating on your right.

Not to be outdone, the draft list is impressive – why wouldn’t it be? It’s Belgian! The list includes Ommegang (Abbey, Witte, Rare Vos, and Adoration), Palm, Duvel Single, La Chouffe, Maredsons Brune, Liefmans Cuvee Brut, Lindemans Framboise, Unibrou Ephermere Cassis, Saison Dupont, Corsendonk Christmas Ale, Chimay Triple, and Monks Stout, to start.

I had the Duvel Single, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Sean and Jaqi both had the Monks Stout, which was rich in flavor. The prices aren’t bad either, considering you’re getting a quality drink.

Of course, with it being below 32 degrees, a patio experience cannot be fairly judged, but hopefully they will have a few cafe tables set up along both the front and the side of the building.

Overall, a great addition to an area that needed a bit of a variety.

The Merry Monk
Rating: Four 1/8 out of Five Pints
90 North Pearl Street, Albany
Facebook: The Merry Monk

First and foremost, I want to wish everyone a belated Happy 2012! For me, New Year truly has a refreshing sort of feeling because my birthday is right in the middle of the month. For that reason, I always want to make sure that I celebrated my birthday “right” to ring in the New Year properly, but this year is different. As I approach my 23^rd birthday, I am proud to say that I do not feel the overwhelming sense to make sure that I celebrate it a certain way. Instead, I feel this sense of joy, appreciation, and gratefulness of what these years have brought to me. I have learned many lessons, have more clarity of what I want to do in and with my life, and feel more at peace with myself even in this transitional period in my life. So in light of a new year for all us, I’m going to share 23 lessons that I’ve learned so far in my life.

1)      Remind yourself often to treat others how you want to be treated.

2)      Praise yourself! (We don’t do that enough for ourselves.)

3)      Know that things are constantly changing no matter how much you plan.

4)      Trust that because things are constantly changing, you can change whatever it is you set your heart on. (i.e. yourself, your circumstances, something in this world, etc.)

5)      It pays to be kind to others.

6)      Things always come full circle.

7)      Intentions are always felt and important.

8)      All the “small things “add up and make something as big as life much easier.

9)      Know better, apply, and do better.

10)   Love is freeing and indefinable.

11)   The little voice you hear is called your intuition, and it’s ALWAYS right about what is best for you.

12)   Life is too short to be mad at the people you love for not being “perfect.”

13)   Remember that WE are all human beings at the end of the day – even the people that we love.

14)   Believe in your abilities more by practicing.

15)   Mind over matter in everything and anything goes a long way.

16)   Have faith.

17)   Have a good cry once in a while.

18)   Laugh every day about something silly that you’ve done to remind yourself that you are human.

19)   Forgive people for hurting you because of their hurt.

20)   Let go if you have to and let go even when you don’t have to.

21)   Attract what you want by embodying everything you want in yourself.

22)   Take accountability for your actions.

23)   Ask the questions that you want answers to.

All 23 of those lessons were not easy to learn, and I constantly have to practice in order to make them part of my life on a daily basis, but I have to make that choice first. Everything that we learn is a choice. Being happy is a choice. Being present is a choice. This New Year’s “outcome” will result in the choices you make. To make choices that we are proud of, we must practice the person we want to become. So this “Beyu lesson” is dedicated to all of us and the journey that we choose each and every day!

To say I love Gary Oldman is an understatement. I think it might be a scientific fact that he literally can play ANY role. As the star of this British espionage film, he spends the first ten minutes of it in silence, but his face says more than words ever could. During the Cold War, Agent Smiley (Oldman), a seasoned veteran, is forced into retirement after a disastrous attempt to turn a Soviet agent. This is only the beginning of troubles for the group of men “at the top of the circus”. This cast of suspicious unsavories is headed up by some of the best names in British cinema. From the charming Colin Firth to the always dazzling John Hurt to the mysterious Ciaran Hinds, there is no shortage of talent to choose from. This was my first time around seeing Benedict Cumberbatch in anything. I was beyond impressed with his performance as the younger Agent Peter Guillam, the man assisting Smiley in his investigation of a mole agent. Keep an eye open for him as he will be the voice of Smaug, the iconic red dragon in the upcoming film The Hobbit.

As we all have seen, actors can’t make a film alone sadly. The screenplay is based on a novel by John le Carre and I will absolutely be reading it very soon. The Cold War was a time when the age old idea of armies facing each other on a battlefield was brushed aside for covert operations. Historically, operations of this nature made huge strides for both sides of the conflict. If anything, you will walk away from this film reminded of how many people gave their lives physically, mentally and emotionally to the war for or against Communism. When Smiley and Guillam dig further into a mole agent at Mi6, the more layers they discover. With no one to trust, Agent Smiley goes to extremes to find the traitor amongst the top men in his organization. It’s the simple touches that make the end catch you sideways.

With modern spy films, I think we have seen enough explosions and car chases for one lifetime. I love great action movies, but realistically a covert operation has to actually be covert. The violence is quick and clean and much of the thrill comes from the silence of a character waiting for one important phone call. If an agent kicked a door down and starting firing off a semi-automatic gun then dropped a grenade, I don’t think it would have had the same breathtaking effect.

It’s been more than a year and a half since Albany’s Lark Tavern closed it’s doors due to an electrical fire. A landmark establishment in Center Square, former owner Tess Collins brought familiarity and class to the Madison Avenue bar/restaurant. Everyone’s who’s anyone in Albany knew that Lark Tavern (453 Madison Avenue, Albany) was the place to go – nothing more than that – for everything: from drinks, to great food, to live music.

With the location remaining vacant after a dispute between building owner Michael DiNapoli (also owner of DiNapoli Opticians) and Collins, the building only relatively recently had started renovations. DiNapoli, along with business partners Ryan Hancox and Laura Bianchino, have restored and expanded the building with an estimated $1 million price tag.

This evening, I stopped into to check the place out, bought myself a Sam Adams Boston Lager and perused around. The bartender told me that the building’s been open since New Year’s Eve and will be fully functional by this Friday, January 6.

For those who remembered what Tess’ Lark Tavern looked like inside, much has changed. The kitchen is now located in the back of the building and wood paneling (good wood paneling – not 70′s cheap-ass paneling) is adorned throughout the interior. If there’s one word that describes the look of the new compared to the old: sanitized.

However, with the kitchen move, Lark Tavern now has two stages: one in the front where the kitchen used to start (now the location of a grand piano) and the second in the back (location of the old stage). The grand piano provides some ideas of how Lark Tavern could capitalize off of Justin’s recent cancellation of jazz performances; the back stage, however, is not as robust as the previous stage. The back section includes some booth seating, but not nearly the amount in the past.

The bathrooms? Gold star improvement and if kept up, probably the cleanest bar bathrooms in Albany.

Lark Tavern, however, does have a robust beer selection that includes Magic Hat, Coors Light, Blue Moon, Yuengling, Ommegang, Heineken, Newcastle, Sam Adams (both Boston Lager and seasonal), Utica Club, Guinness, Smithwick’s, Sierra Nevada, Harptoon, Dirty Penny, Rare Vos, Stella Artois, Budweiser, Davidson Brothers, and Mackenzies on tap. Additionally, Lark Tavern also serves Labatt Blue, Molson Canadian, Landshark, Rolling Rock, Brooklyn (both Brown Ale and Lager), Peroni, Saranac, Angry Orchard, and Corona by the bottle.

With winter now in full swing, a patio review won’t do justice here but I can see that the front of the building, if done the right way, could hold a dozen or so folk in a cordoned off space (depending on how obstructive Shogun Sushi will be once opened next door).

Do I miss some of the draftiness and grit of the previous Lark Tavern? Sure. But with Tess now at McGeary’s and a substantial amount of time has passed since the building has been occupied – this is a good move for the neighborhood. With Magnolia’s on the Park closed and construction at the Shogun Sushi site ongoing, the North Lark bars need some love and with the addition of Lark Tavern – all will be right with the Albany bar universe once again.

Lark Tavern
Rating: Four 1/4 out of Five Pints
453 Madison Avenue, Albany
Facebook: Lark Tavern

Actor-comedian Russell Brand and singer Katy Perry are calling it quits, just over a year after their October 2010 wedding in India, according to divorce papers filed by Brand and obtained by celebrity news website TMZ.

“Sadly, Katy and I are ending our marriage. I’ll always adore her and I know we’ll remain friends,” said Brand in a statement.

Brand had been recently been seen by moviegoers in 2010′s “Get Him to the Greek.” Perry’s career has skyrocketed since the release of “I Kissed A Girl” in 2008.

The divorce was filed in Los Angeles.

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is the first story of Stieg Larson’s “Millennium” thriller trilogy. “Millennium” magazine editor and publisher Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) loses a libel suit filed by billionaire industrialist Hans-Erik Wennerström (Ulf Friberg). Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), a 23 year old woman working for Milton Security as an investigator, investigated Blomkvist for Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer), retired CEO of the Vanger Corporation. With extreme high tech skills, she gets the job done anyway necessary. Vanger wants Mikael to investigate the murder of his great niece, Harriet (Moa Garpendal), 40 years earlier. Vanger suspects it was a member of the family. When Mikael needs an assistant investigator Vanger recommends Lisbeth. After an awkward meeting they begin working together searching for clues to Harriet’s disappearance.

Director David Fincher’s watered down milder version for American audiences still warrants a hard “R” rating for violence, language, nudity, and explicit sexual scenes including rape. Stopping just short of a “NC-17” rating, Dragon 2011 fails to capture much of the darkness of the superior and more explicit 2009 Swedish version. The Swedish version includes Blomkvist going to jail and a Lisbeth hardened by what life has handed her. By comparison, Fincher’s Lisbeth comes across more insane than tough as nails. Neither version is for kids. Make sure to get a sitter. If you can’t afford to get a sitter you can’t afford to see this film yet. This is NOT a film for the under 17 crowd. Even those over 17 may be troubled by the story and its many situations.

If taken as an extreme thriller story, “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)” will probably satisfy most viewers as a mystery story that reaches a conclusion. Fans of the books and devotees of the original movies are likely to be disappointed.

Of note to fans of the original, Noomi Rapace, who played Lisbeth Salander in all three of the Swedish films can currently be seen playing the gypsy “Sim” in “Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows”.

Rated: R – for Graphic Nudity, Brutal Violent Content, Torture, Language, Rape and Strong Sexuality (2 hours 38 min)

Christmas has now passed and we’re on that annual stretch before calling in Baby New Year to ring in 2012. With that being said, there’s still time for a great time with friends before getting drunk on champagne and finding yourself in a cab with twelve others.

One of the more uniquely put-together and always stunning establishments in Albany is the Midtown Tap and Tea Room (289 New Scotland Avenue, Albany), right in the mid New Scotland Avenue commercial corridor between Albany Medical Center and St. Peter’s Hospital. Instead of simply being a “tap room,” this establishment prides itself for being a “coffee house” by day and a place to grab appetizers and smaller portioned plates in the evening.

Midtown Tap and Tea has the typical array of drinks on tap – including my beloved Sam Adams – in addition to a strong slate of various wines, which makes for all the more festive of an occasion. Be it you’re out to dinner with that special someone, reminiscing of years gone by with old friends, or having that post-work drink, Midtown Tap and Tea is your place.

The best part of Midtown Tap and Tea are both of the patio sections – in the front and back – in warm weather months. The front has an approximate capacity of probably ten to twelve, with the back patio overlooking Ontario Street with the back-of-restaurant bar accessible. My sole criticism of Midtown comes down to the second bar, which seems way too big for the reception room setup.

I’ve been to a number of fundraisers and events in the backroom, and although having a large bar works in many cases – this bar creates a rubberneck situation. I find myself having to squeeze between elected officials and donors uncomfortably if I want to get from one side to the other, but it’s a here-and-there situation.

Overall, a very California-style exudes from this New Scotland Avenue watering hole. If you don’t mind driving up New Scotland Avenue and away from the core of bars on Pearl and Lark, make the visit to Midtown Tap and Tea. It’s worth it.

Midtown Tap and Tea Room
Rating: Four out of Five Pints
289 New Scotland Avenue, Albany (phone: 518-435-0202) 435-0202
Facebook: Midtown Tap and Tea Room

What makes a bad movie bad? Is it the director? The producer? The actors? The script? Or a combination of the above resulting in a piece of wreck that can hardly make its way to a richly deserving trash can? In the case of “The Sitter”, the latest effort from David Gordon Green and starring Jonah Hill as Noah Griffith, it should have been left sitting on the shelf.

They started with a potentially winning formula – At the last minute put an “Adult” in charge of watching three kids. Then get someone to provide a reason to leave the house and let the fun and games begin including a requisite visit to a “club”. With lots of luck, by the end, the main characters will have completed their “journey through OZ” and return home with that much more brains, courage and heart. No clicking of heals required.

This formula was used quite successfully in the 1987 PG-13 comedy “Adventures of Babysitting” starring Elizabeth Shue and slightly differently in the 1989 PG-13 comedy “Uncle Buck” starring John Candy. But now it is 2011 and the world has been presented with a darker, snarkier, cruder, crasser, foulmouthed hard “R” rated version of babysitting that ain’t for babies. Failing to entertain throughout, “The Sitter” has few comedic high points, lots of toilet humor, and far too many slow boring stretches.

The mostly forgettable over-the-top characters include Max Records as Slater, the neurotic, pill-popping son with a deeper problem; Landry Bender as Blithe, the potty mouthed, miniature Kardashian wannabe daughter; and Kevin Hernandez as Rodrigo, the threatening stereotypical passed around foster type Hispanic kid with a bladder control issue. The other adults include Ari Graynor as Marisa, Noah’s supposed girlfriend who triggers events by calling Noah to score drugs for her in exchange for a promise of sex, and Sam Rockwell as Karl, the uber gay, bodybuilder and gym/heroin factory owner drug dealer. Others could be mentioned but it already reads like a “Who Cares?” list.

Given the number of good movies out and those arriving shortly, there is no reason to waste time or money on “The Sitter.” Barely worth a peek when in shows up on DVD, even the die-hard Jonah Hill fan is likely to ask for their money back for this one. By the way, that “clicking of heals” noise you hear is the duped audience leaving the theatre in search of one of the good movies.

Rated: R (1 hour 40 min)